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September 20, 2013

10 Most Expensive Hotel Rooms in New York

If you’ve traveled to New York and wonder where the super wealthy stay overnight, well, these accommodations start in the five figures

Many visitors to New York, financial advisors included, travel on a budget and can be hard put to find inexpensive hotel rooms. But not all visitors are on a budget.

Some visitors seek out hotel suites that pay close attention to detail, don’t stint on opulence and promise to meet all their needs—a butler and chauffeur, Central Park views.

They are willing to pay handsomely for overnight stays in New York’s most luxurious accommodations, according to a recent survey by New YorkHotels.org. The 10 most expensive hotel rooms in the city start in the five figures, and go up from there.

By way of comparison, CNN in June identified what it said were “America’s most luxurious hotel suites.” The two most expensive suites on CNN’s list ranked No. 1 and No. 3 on the New York list, but only four others on CNN’s list would have joined their expensive New York counterparts: those at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.V., at the Fairmount San Francisco Hotel, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas; and at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.

NewYorkHotels.org said it developed its ranking, using the average rate at each hotel throughout the month of September as the basis of comparison.

Following are the 10 most expensive hotel suites in New York, along with their nightly rates. Happy lodging!

10. Trump SoHo

2-BR Penthouse: $10,000

Trump SoHo is located in lower Manhattan at the nexus of SoHo, Tribeca and the West Village. The penthouse suites offer loft-like layouts with custom-designed modernist furnishings by Fendi Casa. Views include the Hudson River, midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building, downtown or the East River bridges.

9. The Ritz Carlton

Royal Suite: $14,000

The Royal Suite, which overlooks Central Park, features the ambiance of a private home, and offers easy access to the best of New York’s culture, shopping and restaurants.

8. The Carlyle

Empire Suite: $15,000

The Art Deco-inspired Empire Suite, designed by interior designer Thierry Despont, features a spiral staircase, walls wrapped in cashmere, an office and a private art collection curated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

7. The New York Palace Hotel

Tower Royal Suite: $15,000

The Tower Royal Suite is furnished with French period furniture, and includes a master bedroom, his-and-hers dressing rooms, two guest chambers, a drawing room and a formal dining room that seats 12. The hotel is located on Madison Avenue behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral and cater-corner to Saks Fifth Avenue.

6. The Mandarin Oriental

Presidential Suites: $18,000

Located on top of the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, the Mandarin Oriental’s Presidential Suites offer views of both Central Park and the Hudson River as well as wide swaths of the Manhattan cityscape. The opulent décor reflects Asian touches.

5. The Pierre

The Tata Suite: $20,000

The Tata Suite is located on the hotel's 39th floor, providing views of Central Park. Decorated in neutrals and beiges with hints of India, the two-bedroom suite includes a dining room with a custom silver leaf table that seats eight and a pantry kitchen. For visitors requiring more space, the suite can be combined with other rooms and suites to provide up to six bedrooms and a private floor.

4. The Peninsula

The Peninsula Suite: $24,000

The newly renovated hotel’s Peninsula Suite caters to visitors with a taste for minimal, modern design. They also have at their disposal the Forbes Five Star-rated Peninsula Spa, located on the rooftop, and the rooftop bar Salon de Ning, both of which offer broad cityscape views.

3. The Plaza

Royal Plaza Suite: $30,000

Opulence inspired by the ambiance of Louis XV’s royal court greets guests who step off their own personal elevator into the Royal Plaza Suite: an elaborate array of private and social rooms, a grand piano in the living room, a formal dining room that seats 12. The suite looks onto Fifth Avenue and the Pulitzer Fountain, located next to Central Park.

2. St. Regis

The Presidential Suite: $35,000

Boldface names of the past have stayed in the Presidential Suite: Salvador Dali, Babe Paley and Marilyn Monroe. Amenities include a marble foyer, a fully equipped kitchen with a separate entrance ideal for entertaining, a walnut-paneled library, three bedrooms, four bathrooms and a powder room. A full-service butler is available at any hour.

1. Four Seasons Hotel

Ty Warner Penthouse: $40,000

The Ty Warner Penthouse, designed by I.M. Pei and Peter Marino, is the highest hotel suite in Manhattan at 800 feet above the street. The 4,300 square foot space offers 360-degree views of the city through its floor-to-ceiling windows. It is decorated with artwork specially commissioned by internationally known artists and artisans.